I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No.
72 of the
4th September requesting to be informed of the decision with
respect to the claims advanced by
Van Couver Island against the Colony
of
BritishColumbia Columbia on account of the maintenance of Lighthouses and the
conveyance of Mails.
These two subjects were severally referred to
Mr. Seymour, while in
this Country on the
31st October and the
12th December 1865; but as no
report was submitted by him to the Secretary of State and as the Union
of the two Colonies necessarily entails measures for the adjustment of
their respective liabilities which will now be undertaken by
Governor
Seymour, I shall instruct him to consider and
report report upon the
arrangements which it will be best to make for the settlement of these
claims on the part of
Van Couver Island.